Ex-lawmaker says he has no proof of allegations he made to FBI

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A former legislator who reported Oregon's troubled health exchange to the FBI in 2012 says he has no proof of allegations that federal officials were intentionally misled about progress in setting up the exchange.

Patrick Sheehan, a former Clackamas County Republican, said Thursday he was relaying allegations conveyed to him by a source he declined to identify. The source claimed the state misled federal officials to give the illusion it was further advanced in its work.

Sheehan said he went to the FBI because it would be "a pretty big story if it were to be true." Sheehan's disclosure was first reported by KATU-TV.

Cover Oregon did not return calls for comment and the FBI declined to comment on whether they had an investigation.

Sheehan is working on the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Rep. Dennis Richardson.

Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber and Republican state Rep. Dennis Richardson of Central Point squared off Friday, July 18, 2014 in Oregon first gubernatorial debate. The debate was sponsored by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.

Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber and Republican state Rep. Dennis Richardson of Central Point squared off Friday, July 18, 2014 in Oregon first gubernatorial debate. The debate was sponsored by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.